Six-time undefeated World Professional Karate Champion, middleweight division, and the first westerner ever to achieve an eighth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do; now a leading conservative commentator.

two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, which included defeating a future Olympic gold medalist, and four-time state champion; leading conservative in Congress who chaired the Republican Study Committee for the 112th Congress.

Matt Birk

football

outspokenly pro-life and critical of same-sex marriage, Matt Birk has been repeatedly selected to the Pro Bowl, was the starting center for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2013, and is ranked as one of the most intelligent professional athletes

Nolan Ryan

baseball

went from being one of the greatest pitchers of all time (7 no-hitters) to endorsing Texan Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst as "a proven conservative"

pro-life, outspoken Christian; an analyst for the lamestream media said about him, "You need to disappear, okay, Tim Tebow?"[2] Pressed for a response, Tebow simply smiled and said, "I can't help him with that. That would be pretty hard."[3]

Josh Hamilton

baseball

Used to be a drug addict, then became a born-again Christian and plays major league baseball now. He has appeared on Glenn Beck's show to talk about his faith and addiction.

Billy Sunday

baseball

Left a $5,000 a year salary (1891 dollars) as a star baseball player for a $75 a month salary to become a Christian preacher;[4] his radio evangelism was such a sensation that the FCC formed in response

led the hopeless Boston Red Sox to a stunning World Series championship in 2004 after defeating the liberalNew York Yankees in the American League Championship Series; for an encore he helped Scott Brown win "Kennedy's seat," an even greater upset. Also was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series, in which he helped the Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the Yankees in one of the biggest World Series upsets in history.

former Republican Senator (KY); he pitched a perfect game with the fewest pitches ever in the National League (only 90) -- like a true conservative! Bunning is also one of only five players to pitch a no-hitter in both the National and American Leagues.

"Before every performance she would close her eyes and give thanks and praise to God. She believed that God had given her the gift of skating and in each performance she worked to glorify God."[8] Lynn, once the highest-paid female athlete, also has written in support of conservative values.

campaigned for Republicans, served as a fighter pilot, and also criticized the media, which was unfair to him, even denying him the MVP when he hit over .400 in 1941. It could be argued that Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak was more impressive that year, but the media bias was clearly a factor in the vote. One sportswriter inexplicably left Williams off his ballot entirely.

His Christian beliefs caused him to abstain from playing or training on Sundays. Recently endorsed the conservative New Zealand National Party

David Icke

soccer

Currently best known for his outspoken opposition to attempts by liberals to control government and people's lives.

Ewan Murray

rugby

Observes the Sabbath and does not play for his club (Newcastle) or country (Scotland) on Sundays.

Eric Liddell

track

Honoured in both Scotland and China as one of their great-ever athletes, Liddell refused to run in the 1924 Olympic 100m on a Sunday. Instead, he competed in the 400m and, though it was not his best event, he won the gold medal! Returned to China as a missionary and was devoted to helping the sick and poor.

Gavin Peacock

soccer

Attacking midfielder for Newcastle, Chelsea and QPR then a respected footballer commentator. From 2006, combined commentating with attending a seminary. Now training full-time for the ministry.

Jason Robinson

rugby

Becoming a born-again Christian enabled him to reform his troubled personal life

Played center and linebacker for the University of Michigan and led them to two undefeated championship seasons. He was later offered professional contracts by two NFL franchises, but declined in order to attend law school. Later, Ford became minority leader of the House of Representatives and was appointed Vice President following the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and then became president when Richard Nixon resigned. Ford praised and introduced conservativeRobert Bork at the beginning of his contentious nomination hearings in 1987.

a self-confessed "old fashioned Olympian",[13] this four-time Olympics discus champion spoke out against the use of steroids and their harmful effects during a time when other athletes were relying on them

Bubba Smith

football

one of the greatest defensive lineman, Bubba Smith gave up a lucrative contract to do beer commercials because he was concerned about the effect that alcohol has on people

David Tyree

football

hero of the upset victory by the New York Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl with a phenomenal catch, Tyree spoke out against same-sex marriage, and later tweeted: "People of faith ... direct some prayers my way. Got darts comin from every direction. Blessed are those persecuted for His name's sake."[14]

Roger Staubach

football

an active Catholic, he told the press he said a "Hail Mary" during his last-ditch 50-yard pass toward the end zone in a 1975 playoff game, which was caught for a come-from-behind victory for his Cowboys; the name for such a football pass has stuck ever since.[15]

References

↑The first college sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, and the only quarterback to lead his team to two BCS college championships.

↑Tedy Bruschi continued to say about Tebow, "You're not the starting quarterback, it's Mark Sanchez's team. I want my voice to come from my head coach and my quarterback -- my starting quarterback. That message has to be consistent. I don't want all this competition brewing, and every time you speak and anytime you talk about competition or anything like that, you're twisting things," he went on. "I want one voice. One quarterback, not two." Tedy Bruschi thinks Tim Tebow should pipe down nfl.com, retrieved June 26, 2012. (Tedi Bruschi was a former New England Patriots linebacker.)